The first layer is the label material. The second layer is the ink. The label can be multiple colors (CMYK), photo-quality graphics, or simple text. The ink is applied using screen or digital print technology. After the ink has cured (dried), the labels are laser-or die-cut and the waste material between labels removed from the press sheet. The liquid polyurethane material is then applied to the labels on the press sheet and left to cure.
Applying resin to printed images can be done either manually or via high end production systems that dispense the material in an automated way. The greatest challenge in the doming process, however, is determining how much resin to put into a product’s surface.
Doming sounds simple enough if you can consistently pour an exact volume of resin onto a label. The material flows to the edge of the label just as spilled water flows to the edge of the table and stops before dripping onto the floor. If there is too much water, the floor is going to get wet, but too little and the water never even reaches the edge of the table.
The process of doming can be as straightforward as mixing resin in a bottle and then applying the liquid plastic by hand onto a label. At first glance, it looks totally uncomplicated but it is quite a different story to dome labels repeatedly, and at a high quality. There are so many technical issues that need to be overcome for doming to be performed with consistency and in a way that produces great results– that it makes sense to outsource or partner with an experienced doming company.